I'm primarily an aircraft guy, but I've been bitten by the auto bug lately. I've been eyeing a bunch of vintage classics, but I really don't know what's worth buying, and what's best left on the shelf. So could anybody help me out and give me a rough run-down on what's decent?
I'm thinking, particularly, in terms of European cars - Mercs, Jags, Rollers, Bugattis and the like. Apparently Jo-Han's Mercedes 500Ks are nice, but how do they compare with the Italeri or Monogram 540K kits? Lindberg's SSK? And what's the better Rolls: Monogram or Italeri? Are the Italeri Bugatti Royale/Napoleon or Lindberg Victoria worth building? Are the Minicraft 1/16 kits any good, or would I be better off with, say, the 1/24 SSK, or MG-TC (okay, so it's not pre-war... but it looks it )
And, for that matter, when reviewers say a kit like the Jo-Han Mercs are nice... is that nice, given the fact that they're 40 year old toolings, or just nice full stop, and they wouldn't feel out of place among more modern Revellogram releases (since I'm assuming they're not going to be Tamiya quality)?
And if all of that is too big to even begin to answer, are there any good review sites/webzines for model cars, that will have sprue shots or in box reviews of vintage cars?
I realize this is a pretty big and involved question, so I'd appreciate any input at all. I'm not particularly set on particular body styles, model years or the like, so I guess basically it boils down to, what kits are worth searching out for an accurate, reasonably detailed, straightforward, enjoyable pre-war build?